The Official Record

Who constructs, controls, and preserves the Official Record are often key to documenting and understanding events. However, partly because of the potential of the Official Record to contain evidence of controversial policies and malfeasance, its construction, control and preservation in the arena of national security is inherently contested: with those seeking greater openness and (democratic) accountability arguing 'sunlight is [...] the best of disinfectants', and others, not always unreasonably, urging stricter information control because, to their mind, sound government arises when advice and policy are formulated secretly. Across seven chapters, this edited volume explores the intersection of the Official Record, oversight, national security, and democracy. Via key US, UK, and Canadian case studies, all of which are backed up with primary documentation, this volume is designed to help higher level undergraduate readers and above explore the Official Record in the context of the national security operations of democratic states. All chapters are research-based pieces of original writing that feature a Document Appendix containing primary documents (often excerpts) that are key to a chapter's narrative. In short, via engagement with a broad range of primary material, this volume interrogates the boundaries between national security, accountability, oversight, and the Official Record.